Guard-rail clamp



R. E. YDLTON.

GUARD RAIL CLAMP.

A'PPLICATHIN FILED DECx 18. I920 Patented May 31', NVENTOR R. E. Yoli'on ATTORNEY UNITED s'rA'res PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. YOLTON, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR 'ro KILBY race & I

swrrcn COMPANY, A CORPORATION or ALABAMA.

GUARD RAIL CLAMIP.

Specification of Letters latcnt.

Patented Ma 31, 1921.

Application filed December 18, 1920. Serial No. 431,690.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. YoLToN,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Birmingham in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guard-Rail Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a guard rail clamp comprising two end steel clamp castings which are attached to a separate base member preferably formed from rail scrap.

Preferably one of the clamp fastenings is permanently attached to the base member while the other is removable to simplify the insertion and removal of the clamp, as a whole, and to avoid the necessity of unspiking the guard rail which is not generally necessary.

A feature of my invention resides in the manner in which the clamps engage the web of the base member, the sides of the clamp opposite the base web being shaped so that when drawn tightly by their con- 5 necting bolt they will positively engage the base and head of the base member or equivalent part, thereby increasing the strength of the joint between the clamps and base until I secure a full support from the base to carry the load strains on the clamps.

My invention further comprises the novel details of construction. and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment only are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the clamp with the main and guard rail shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

1 As shown, the guard rail clamp comprises a base formed by a short length of scrap rail having its head 1 downturned and its base upturned so as to engage and support the base of the main track rail 3 and the guard rail 4. The base rail projects sufficiently on each side of the rails 3 and 4 and at one end has permanently attached thereto the clamp element 5. This element comprises a vertical web which fits against the web of the rail 3, fitting snugly between firmly between the head 1 and base 2 of the clamp base and thus will transmit thereto the full load strain. on this clamp member. Between the rails 3 and 4 is inserted a sectional filler block 11 and at the other end of the clamp base is detachably mounted the other clamp member 12. This member comprises a vertical web which terminates in a vertical" face substantially in line with the adjacent edge of the head of the rail 4. A transverse notch 13 opens through this vertical face and receives a longitudinal shoulder 14 on a wedge plate 15 which fills in the space between the rib 12 and the web, base and tread of the rail 4.

The shoulder 14 is provided with a series of holes 16 therein which are adapted to receive a cotter key 17 driven through the smaller end of the wedge so as by engagement with the web 12 to hold the wedge in its adjusted position. The web 12 is also provided with lateral bracing webs 6 extending to the sides of its base 7. The members 11 forming the filler block having interlocking projections and sockets in their engaging faces and one is provided with underhung lips 18 which engage the base 2 of the clamp base so as to hold the filler block in operating position. A bolt 10 clamps the side members 8 of this detachable clamp member to the web 9 of the clamp base.

My invention is applied as follows. The base members having been formed of the requisite lengths of scrap rail, the cast clamp elements 5 are applied to one end of each clamp base and bolted solidly thereto so as to draw the base flanges 8 into rigid interlock with the base and head of the base. The base is then slipped under the main and guard rail until the clamp 5 engages one" or the other of said rails, the filler block 11 having been previously disposed between the adjacent faces of the rails 3 and 4. A de mountable clamp 12 is then slipped on the free end of the clamp base until the alining bolt holes in its side members 8 register with the bolt hole drilled through the Web of the clamp base. The bolt 10 is then applied and tightened until the side members of this element are drawn into a positive interlock with the base and head of the clamp base. The wedge plate 15 is then driven into position and when set the cotter key 17 is inserted and the apparatus is locked in operating position. Obviously the clamp can thus be applied and removed without unspilring the guard rail and as all elements of the clamp are tightly drawn together so that there is no'play between them, the whole 'structure functions exactly as an integral casting or forging but has the very great advantage of being made up of parts which are relatively inexpensive as compared with the solid clamps.

Moreover my present invention furnishes the opportunity to plants engaged in the manufacture of rail clamps and allied equipment to use up a large amount of rail scrap which is generally available in considerable quantities at such plants. The same advantages would be obtained if my clamp were made up with its base member formed of standard rolled sections of T-bars, channels or built up angles instead of the rail. The manner in which my separately made up clamps are mounted onthe end of the clamp base enables me to provide the requisite strength in the clamp sections without adding undue weight of metal in the base.

This invention is not intended to be restricted in scope to the specific embodiments shown, but contemplates such modifications as come within the spirit'and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A guard rail clamp comprising, in combination, a pair of rail engaging clamp elements having transversely slotted bases projecting below the rails, a base member having a top flange adapted to support the rails to be clamped, means to rigidly mount said clamp elements on the ends of said base member, and a taper member adapted to wedge the assembled clamp inoperative engagement with the rails. v

2. A guard rail comprising a base formed by a steel member having substantially the shape in cross section of an inverted rail, separate steel castings adapted to slip fit onto the ends of said base, one clamp member having its rail engaging face shaped to fit against the web, base and head of the adjacent track rail, the other clamp member having a coacting wedge element adapted to interfit between it and its adjacent rail, and means to lock said clamp members rigidly in position on said base.

3. A guard rail clamp comprising a base formed of a steel rail inverted, end clamp members formed by steel castings having wide bases slotted to slip endwise on the base rail with a snug fit about its base, web and head, bolts to fasten said castings on the base, vertical webs integral with said clamp bases, one web having its rail engaging face shaped to correspond with the adjacent track rail, the other member having a co-acting wedge which engages the other track rail, and lateral brace webs leading from each vertical web to the base of the clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT E. YOLTON. Witness:

NOMIE WVELsH. 

